1.4401 stainless steel vs 1.4462

What material is equivalent to 1.4401?

The material equivalent of 1.4401 stainless steel is AISI 316. It is also known as EN 1.4401, X5CrNiMo17-12-2, and UNS S31600. This austenitic stainless steel is characterized by its chromium, nickel, and molybdenum content, providing good corrosion resistance, particularly in chloride-containing environments.

 

What material is 1.4462 equivalent to?
DIN 1.4462 is a duplex stainless steel based upon a 22% chromium content. It can also be referred to as UNS S31803 (ASTM A182 F51) or UNS S32205 (ASTM A182 F60) when supplied as solid bar.The grade known as DIN 1.4462 was originally developed in the 1930s for application in paper and pulp manufacture. It provided twice the strength and a significant uplift in corrosion resistance compared to the more general 304/316 stainless steel grades.

 

Chemical Composition (wt. %)

Grade	C (max)	Cr	Ni	Mo	N	Mn	Si	P (max)	S (max)	Others
1.4401 (AISI 316)	0.07	16.5–18.5	10.0–13.0	2.0–2.5	–	≤2.0	≤1.0	0.045	0.015	–
1.4462 (Duplex 2205)	0.03	21.0–23.0	4.5–6.5	2.5–3.5	0.10–0.22	≤2.0	≤1.0	0.035	0.015	–

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Mechanical Properties (at room temperature)

Property	1.4401 (AISI 316)	1.4462 (Duplex 2205)
Tensile Strength (Rm)	500–700 MPa	620–880 MPa
Yield Strength (Rp0.2)	≥200 MPa	≥450 MPa
Elongation (A5)	≥40%	≥25%
Hardness (HB)	≤215 HB	≤290 HB
Modulus of Elasticity	~193 GPa	~200 GPa

 

Corrosion Resistance

1.4401 (AISI 316) contains chromium, nickel, and molybdenum, offering resistance to atmospheric conditions, water, various chemicals, and certain concentrations of acids and salt solutions. It is suitable for general corrosive environments and performs well in food processing, architectural decoration, and conventional chemical applications.

1.4462 (similar to 2205 duplex steel), featuring an austenitic-ferritic duplex structure with high molybdenum and nitrogen content, exhibits exceptional resistance to chloride-induced stress corrosion cracking, pitting, and crevice corrosion, making it ideal for harsh environments such as marine settings and highly corrosive chemical industries.

 

Workability

1.4401 demonstrates excellent workability, with moderate strength and good toughness. Its deformation during cold working (e.g., cold rolling, cold bending) and hot working (e.g., forging, hot rolling) is easy to control, requiring minimal demands on processing equipment. It is compatible with various conventional processing methods and suitable for large-scale industrial production.

1.4462 poses greater processing challenges due to its duplex structure, which results in higher strength. Processing requires greater force and more complex parameter control; cold working is prone to hardening, and hot working demands strict temperature range adherence. Professional techniques and specialized equipment are necessary to ensure quality.

 

Weldability

1.4401 offers good weldability, with minimal risk of cracking during welding. Its welding processes are well-established, and reliable joints can be achieved using conventional methods such as tungsten inert gas (TIG) welding and manual metal arc (MMA) welding. Appropriate post-weld treatment helps maintain corrosion resistance.

1.4462 presents more complex weldability, as the duplex structure is prone to phase ratio changes during welding, leading to uneven joint properties. Strict control of welding parameters-such as current, voltage, and speed-is required, and special materials or processes may be necessary to avoid embrittlement issues.

 

Applications

1.4401, with its balanced overall performance, is used in applications with moderate corrosion resistance requirements and less extreme environments, such as food storage tanks and pipelines, architectural railings and handrails, and conventional chemical and wastewater treatment equipment.

1.4462 is employed in highly corrosive and demanding environments, including marine engineering components like seawater pipelines and platform structures, chemical process equipment (e.g., reactors and heat exchangers) handling strong corrosive media, as well as intensive corrosion process stages in industries such as papermaking and energy.

 

GNEE Stainless Steel is an independent stockist and fabricator of 316/316L stainless steel. With our extensive inventory and exceptional fabrication capabilities, we can meet most project requirements, whether stock or custom. We offer: stock-size plate and sheet, stock-length bar, cut-to-length plate and sheet, cut-to-length bar, cold forming of plate, sheet, and bar, and any other necessary fabrication services. For any questions, please email sales@gneestainless.com.